NAPTIP, stakeholders’ parley towards human trafficking-free society

The growing incidences of human trafficking and abduction, despite measures by governments and non-governmental agencies to arrest the monster raises concerns, as well as calls for reassessing the measures and strategies towards a human trafficking-free society.
BINTA SHAMA reports
Pertinent question Considering the rampant cases of rape, abduction, kidnap, and human trafficking, many would view the phenomenon as organised crimes, because much as these delinquencies are not strange scenes across Nigeria, they seem to have come to stay.
Going by the manner the rampant case are execute many observers will conclude that the security agencies are overwhelmed and perhaps, helpless.
One of their ploys it was learnt is “smoothly achieved undisguised in a manner of deceit promising young person’s whether male or female of a brighter future elsewhere”.
Then, this raises a pertinent question: Can our society be human trafficking free with the efforts by government and private organisations so far? The fact remains that people who fall victims according to reports are mostly the poor, desperate ones as well as those ignorant of the tricks of the traffickers.
Yet, many people have come to accept it as part of their daily challenges living in the country.
NAPTIP to the rescue? In the face of challenges the National Agency for prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), since its establishment 15years ago has been fighting hard against every criminal whether within the country or overseas to tame human trafficking of persons in and out of the country.
Just recently the Agency had a series of activities to commemorate the 2018 World Day against Human Trafficking with the theme; (HUMAN TRAFFICKING: BOUNDARIES OF UNCERTAINTIES), 15years of the Agency’s existence in the country and their annual public lecture where four books were launched with the drive to have a better understanding of the concept of human trafficking at basic and higher levels of education in Nigeria.
359 convicted suspected traffickers Interestingly, the Agency has established 359 convictions of suspected traffickers so far, but more amazing is that just under one year in the office of the present Director General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, has established 43convictions which a rational mind will conclude that given more opportunity to carry out such assignment, she would go all out and put an end to these trauma in the society.
According to her, human trafficking threatens our collective existence as a country which at the end will leave Nigerians with the issues to deliberate the debasement of our common humanity.
“The issue concerns humanity in general, it is an issue that concerns every community because it tears apart social fabric, it distorts markets, it endangers public health, fuels violence and organised crimes.
The issues of injustice, man’s inhumanity to man, the outrage of human trafficking which must be called by its true name- Modern Slavery,” she stressed.
Human organs harvesting on high demand Speaking also, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma who gave the public lecture at the ceremony stressed the fact that human organs were placed on high demand which makes human trafficking for organs harvesting a very lucrative opportunity, adding that the disregard of human rights, and the abuse of women and children used as objects that can be sold into slavery and sexual exploitation and forced into unwanted marriages and labour.
He further said human trafficking is a serious crime which in disguise is a modern day slavery and appealed to Nigerians to rise up and do the needful by protecting themselves and their loved ones from this horrible menace in the society.
Human trafficking and illegal migration The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, SAN, said the issue of human trafficking and illegal migration has in recent times impacted negatively Nigeria’s image to the extent that Nigeria is now ranked second Tier watch list in terms of countries meeting minimum requirements for eradicating TIP, in addition to being ascribed with the highest number of trafficked women and children in Africa.
“Trafficking in Persons (TIP) constitutes a gross violation of human rights and has become a notorious and highly profitable international crime.
Although reliable statistics on trafficking are difficult to obtain, it is estimated that at least 3,000,000 persons globally are in situations of forced labour, as a result of trafficking and that women make up 56% of the victims of economic exploitation and 98% of those exploited in commercial sex,” he disclosed He was represented by Permanent Secretary and Solicitor General Dayo Apata esq.
Speaking earlier, the Secretary General of the Federation (SGF) Mr.
Boss Mustapha, said the commemoration of the 2018 World Day against Human Trafficking was to remind every human being on the surface of the earth that such criminal act is a global offence and should be treated and given an effective approach to guide human lives and dignity despite the differences in ethics and religion.
He further said that migration which is trendy, has become the major spice in luring young and qualified persons who end up as victims due to unemployment and lack of opportunities caused by economic crisis in developing countries like Nigeria.
The SGF who was represented by the deputy Director of the office SGF David Haruna, said: “Slavery feeds on human issues to produce even more miseries, we are therefore faced with a big complex, self sustaining criminal machine which must be stopped.
The strategy to combat this crime must cut all boaders, languages, culture and religious beliefs and the need to build and expand networks across law enforcement and civil society which will in turn make us ambassadors of hope.
We will not rest until we have a more humane and central world devoid of slavery.
Human and material resources should be mobilised to holistically tackle the issue of trafficking.
Human traffickers must face justice no matter where they operate”.
According to the National Ambassador NAPTIP King Tonto, said that human trafficking will need to stop because it is becoming like an epidemic especially where it affects family which if it persists it will continue to take us back as a nation.
“It is the highest crime, becoming a cartel and the moment we all begin to blame these victims, we lose it and fuel the culprits to continue in this evil acts.
Many are in the situation of trafficking but do not know what it is.
Recently we held a program in the University of Abuja to create awareness to deliver young and promising ladies from falling victims to this day light vultures.
Creating awareness is key and fighting alongside with the federal government on this course by creating jobs and giving these victims a favourable atmosphere”, he maintained.
According to the National Public Relations Officer Network of Civil Society against Child Trafficking Abuse and Labour (NACTAL) said it was a day set aside to celebrate the hopeless especially to the victims of human trafficking and as well to put sadness on the faces of traffickers around the world.
To the President Business and Professional Women (BPW), Mrs. Dupe Utsalo, Nigeria has all it takes and that it is a moment to say no to human trafficking as they are in collaboration with NAPTIP.
“As a business professional women networking, we also mentor a lot of young ladies, women, widows and standout for what is right”.
At the end of the event, the DG NAPTIP disclosed a new slogan ‘NAPTIP ENSURING A HUMAN TRAFFICKING FREE NATION’, to publicise its appropriateness.
The occasion was attended by elder statesmen, stakeholders both within the country and from outside the shores of Nigeria.

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